Bilingual transcription: Ceòl is òrain

RONA A’ milleadh mo chadail, a’ milleadh mo dhùsgaidh…

Ruining my sleep, ruining my waking…

LUC Chan eil mi a’ smaoineachadh gur e deagh chomharra a th’ ann am faclan an òrain sin. A bheil cùisean air a dhol am miosad?

I don’t think the words of that song are a good sign. Are things getting worse?

RONA Mar a chanadh Màiri Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh, chan e òran a th’ ann ach crònan.

As Mairi Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh would say, it’s not a song but a murmer.

LUC Duilich ach chan eil mi eòlach air a’ bhàrdachd aicese.

Sorry but I’m not familiar with her poetry.

RONA Cha robh na mì ach tha mi air a bhith a’ leughadh tòrr bàrdachd bho chionn ghoirid. Tha an t-eòlas agam air na bana-bhàird air sìor dhol am feabhas!

Neither was I but I’ve been reading lots of poetry recently. My knowledge of the female poets has improved!

LUC Tha còir agam a bhith nas eòlaiche air an obair aig Sìleas na Ceapaich bhon a bha i na bu dlùithe dham sgìre fhèin.

I should be more familiar with the work of Sìleas na Ceapaich since she’s closer to my own district.

RONA Cha do sgrìobh ise an t-uabhas bàrdachd. Bha i gu math poilitigeach, agus gu mòr air taobh nan Seumasach. Ach o, tha a’ chumha, Alasdair à Gleanna Garadh – dìreach àlainn.

Bu tu ’n t-iubhar thar gach coillidh,
Bu tu ’n darach daingeann làidir,
Bu tu ’n cuileann ’s bu tu ’n draigheann,
Bu tu ’n t-abhall molach blàthmhor.

She didn’t write that much poetry. But she was quite political, and very much on the side of the Jacobites. And her lament, Alasdair of Glengarry – just beautiful.

You were the yew above every forest, you were the strong steadfast oak, you were the holly and the blackthorn, you were the apple tree, rough-barked and many-flowered.

LUC Cha robh eagal oirre a beachdan a chur an cèill, an robh?

She wasn’t afraid to declare her thoughts, was she?

RONA Cha robh eagal air Màiri Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh a bharrachd. Bha a’ bhuil oirre. An robh fios agad nach do chòrd aon de na h-òrain aice ris an Leòdach mhòr ann an Dùn Bheagain agus chaidh a fuadach a Mhuile.

Mairi Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh wasn’t afraid either. But it caught up with her. Did you know that the Big Macleod in Dunvegan didn’t like one of her songs and she was exiled to Mull.

LUC Inns dhomh ma-thà, an e neart is misneachd nam bana-bhàrd a tha gad phiobrachadh?

Tell me then, is it the strength and courage of the female poets that inspires you?

RONA Gun cheist, agus ma chuireas mi Màiri Mhòr nan Òran còmhla ris an dithis eile, abair boireannaich threun, ealanta. Cha leiginn le duine na tàlantan aca a chuir an lughad!

Without question and if I add Màiri Mhòr nan Òran in with the other two, what strong, artistic women. I wouldn’t let anyone lessen their talents!

LUC Cha chuirinn mo chorrag ann an sùil duine aca! Ach cò às a tha sinn a’ dol a dh’fhaighinn nan òran ùra Gàidhlig an-diugh – mur h-eil do leithid fhèin a’ dol gan sgrìobhadh.

I wouldn’t poke my finger into any of their eyes! But where are we going to get new Gaelic songs from today – if people like you aren’t writing.

RONA Sgrìobh Runrig mòran òrain ùra Ghàidhlig air a bheil daoine fhathast measail. Chaidh an cultar againn an treasad rin linn.

Runrig wrote many new Gaelic songs which people still like. Our culture was strengthened as a result.

LUC Abair gun tug iadsan misneachd do ghinealach ùr leis a’ chlàr Play Gaelic… Tha gu leòr eile air an eisimpleir aca a leantainn agus tòrr chòmhlain ùra air nochdadh.

They certainly inspired a new generation with Play Gaelic… There are plenty of others who have followed their lead and lots of new bands have been formed.

RONA ’S dòcha gu bheil an tuilleadh a-muigh an sin, ag obair leotha fhèin, a’ feuchainn ri na sgilean aca a chur am feabhas.

Maybe there are more out there, working by themselves, trying to improve their skills.

LUC Nach dèan thu rudeigin tron fhèis gus sgrìobhadh òrain a bhrosnachadh?

Why don’t you do something through the fèis to encourage songwriting?

RONA Dh’fhaodainn bùth-obrach a chur air dòigh don òigridh. An t-ionnnsachadh òg…

I could set-up a workshop for young people. The early learning…

LUC An t-ionnsachadh bòidheach! B’ fheàirrde iad sin saoilidh mi! Agus cha mhiste dhut fhèin a dhol ann!

The beautiful learning! They would appreciate that, I think. And it would do no harm for you to go!

RONA Haoi!

Hey!